While the evidence for the association of aerobic exercise with longevity is extensive, little is known about the effects of strength training.
In a recent study, researchers followed more than 147,000 adults for up to 30 years and tracked the amount of time they spent on strength and aerobic exercise.
Strength training ranged from weight lifting to exercises such as Swedish swimming, squats and lunges.
According to the results, people who did 90 to 119 minutes of strength training per week had a 13 percent reduced risk of premature death from any cause. This amount of weekly strength training was also associated with a 19 percent lower risk of death from heart disease and a 27 percent lower risk of death from neurological or brain disease.
For cancer mortality, a reduction in risk was observed only at lower levels of resistance training, up to 59 minutes per week.
Combining strength training with aerobic activity—such as walking, cycling, or swimming—was associated with even greater longevity benefits than strength training alone.
The findings support current recommendations that encourage both types of activity to maximize longevity benefits, the authors said.
